A review of recent thermophotovoltaic energy conversion technology development at NASA Lewis Research Center
- Photovoltaic and Space Environment Branch, NASA Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio (United States)
NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC) has had an ongoing research program in TPV since the late 1980{close_quote}s. This effort has included both in-house research programs on critical components such as photovoltaic cells (PV) and emitter materials, as well as an active contracting effort directed toward system and component development. Of particular note is the in-house development of thin film selective emitters fabricated from rare-earth yttrium aluminum garnets (YAG). Also developed at LeRC is a Monolithic Interconnected Module (MIM) consisting of many small InGaAs cells series interconnected on a single InP substrate. An infrared reflector placed on the rear surface of the substrate returns unabsorbed photons to the emitter for recycling. The current contracted efforts include two TPV system developments by Tecogen, Inc., a solar powered TPV system development, a GaInAsSb cell development and several emitter development efforts (plasma-sprayed selective emitters, flexible SiC and a selective emitting light pipe). {copyright} {ital 1998 American Institute of Physics.}
- OSTI ID:
- 664643
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-980103--
- Journal Information:
- AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 420; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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